§ Mr. Norman Hoggasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many babies with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome virus have been born in each of the health board areas in Scotland in the past three years.
§ Mr. John MacKayDuring the past three years, 26 babies have been born in Scotland of mothers with HIV infection: 20 in Lothian and six in Tayside Health Board areas. Blood tests have shown that some of these babies have antibodies to the AIDS virus, but is not yet clear54W whether they have developed their own antibodies, or whether the antibodies have been transferred from their mothers before birth.
§ Mr. Norman Hoggasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what will be the total cost of the national campaign to prevent acquired immune deficiency syndrome expressed as a percentage of the Scottish health budget.
§ Mr. John MacKaySo far, the Government has allocated £1.4 million centrally to fund measures to control the spread of AIDS in Scotland. In addition, substantial costs have been incurred by health boards in dealing with this disease, but it is not possible to identify this expenditure, so the total cost cannot be expressed as a percentage of the Scottish health budget.
§ Mr. Norman Hoggasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cases of acquired immune deficiency syndrome have been reported to health boards in each of the past three years.
§ Mr. John MacKayThe number of cases of AIDS reported to the communicable diseases (Scotland) unit is as follows:
Cases 1984 3 1985 4 1986 6
§ Mr. Norman Hoggasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice he has given to health boards on the provision of care for persons suffering from acquired immune deficiency syndrome; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John MacKaySince August 1983, 13 circulars or letters of guidance have been issued by the Scottish Home and Health Department to health boards advising them about various matters relating to this disease.